Surely Olivia Pendarth's interest in her neighbours' concerns was, to say the least of it, excessive.

But the other's next words modified her censorious thoughts.
"Colonel Crofton and one of my brothers were in the same regiment together.

I knew him quite well when he and I were both young, and when Miss Crofton came to see her sister-in-law a fortnight ago, I offered to make certain enquiries for her." There was a touch of mystery, of hesitation in the older lady's voice, and Janet Tosswill "rose" as she was perhaps meant to do.

"What sort of enquiries ?" she asked.

"I thought Miss Crofton was on the best of terms with her sister-in-law." "So she is; but she wanted to know more than Mrs.Crofton was inclined to tell her about the circumstances--the really extraordinary circumstances, Janet--concerning Colonel Crofton's death.